Tom • Θανάσης

Sandouri • σαντούρι

Tom was born and raised in the Detroit area and traces his roots to the regions of eastern Thrace, Kozani, and Sparta. He grew up listening to Greek music, but lost interest for a while and spent his college years playing guitar in a rock band. Eventually, he re-discovered Greek music and decided to learn the sandouri after falling in love with an album featuring the famous sandouri player Tasos Diakogiorgis. He has taken lessons in Mytilini, the sandouri capital of Greece, from the eminent player Dimitris Kofteros. He knows the repertoire of the Aegean islands and western Asia Minor well and deepened his knowledge of Greek music by learning isokratima in Byzantine chant, spending three years in Greek dance groups, and studying Ottoman classical music. Outside the band, he also plays the politiko laouto (lafta) and the baglama, albeit not very well.

Dylan • «Ο Σκωτσέζος»

Percussion • κρουστά

Dylan began playing music in college at Michigan State University as a bass player in early 90s punk bands RMutt and Fhät. Later, he played in Detroit-based reggae band Gruppe97. Sometime in the early 2000s, while taking an intense interest in world music, he studied traditional Arabic music at the Arabic Music Retreat in Mount Holyoke with percussionist Michel Merhej Baklouk. Michel taught him the frame drum (similar to the Greek ντέφι) and riqq (Arabic tambourine). Later, he was introduced to Abdelkarim Badr, legendary oud player, and began to play in a traditional takht ensemble at the LaShish chain of restaurants. Near the end of that tenure he met and played gigs with Peter, who introduced him to traditional Greek music and to Ted, and later to Tom and Stavros. 

Stavros • Σταύρος

Lute, vocals • λαγούτο, τραγούδι

Stavros is the son of a professional Cretan lyra (λύρα) player. At a very young age, while enjoying his father's live performances both in New York and on the island of Crete, he fell in love with the other main instrument in Cretan music, the lagouto/lute (λαγούτο). His personal bond with the instrument came to fruition about two decades later and grows more intense as each day passes. As an active member of the Cretan Fraternity of Detroit “PSELORETES,” Stavros has had the opportunity to perform for several local events with fellow Cretan musicians from around the States, as well as with professional musicians from Crete. He was discovered by Thanasi during a solo performance for a Church festival. After his first few collaborations with the band, Stavros officially joined Aegean Roots due to their shared respect and passion for playing traditional Greek music and their common interest in sharing their love for this music with all.

Peter • Παναγιώτης

Oud, lute • Ούτι, λαγούτο

Member emeritus • Επίτιμο μέλος

Pete grew up in New York City, the child of immigrants from the island of Skopelos. He owns Psarianos Violins, Michigan's premier full-service violin shop, and counts among his customers many members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Ted and Dylan are also longtime customers, and those relationships led to forming our group. Although he works on violins for a living, his favorite instrument to play is the oud. He learned on New York's bustling Greek music scene and frequented the legendary Port Said Cafe in Astoria, where the best Greek, Armenian, Turkish, Balkan, and Arabic musicians played. Among his ouds is one that he built himself.

Although he has retired from playing with the band on a regular basis, we still include him when possible and still learn from him.

Place